What is IEC 81346?
IEC 81346 is an international standard for structuring technical systems using a reference designation system based on three aspects: Function (what it does), Location (where it is), and Product (what it is).
Technical Definition: An international standard for structuring technical systems using a reference designation system. IEC 81346 defines three aspects: Function (what it does), Location (where it is) and Product (what it is) – enabling every component to receive a unique, unambiguous identifier throughout the facility lifecycle.
Why it matters: Without a systematic reference designation system, maintenance becomes guesswork. IEC 81346 makes it possible to find any component quickly, link sensor data to physical components, and integrate BIM models with operational systems.
HubMind’s view: IEC 81346 is the foundation of our naming convention work. We implement it in every new installation and support facilities migrating from legacy naming schemes.
Read more: IEC 81346: what it is, why it matters, and how it is used in practice.
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Positioning note: IEC 81346 provides a strong reference designation structure. For machine-readable semantics and queryable context, combine it with ontologies such as BRICK ontology and established metadata models.
Example and limits
If the same pump appears in BIM, a PLC, SCADA and a maintenance system, IEC 81346 can give it a shared reference even when each system shows different properties. The standard creates structure, but does not by itself solve data quality, ownership or semantic relationships.
HubMind’s view
Our point: the reference designation should be decided before suppliers populate their systems. Why: a shared identity makes handover and integration verifiable instead of interpreted afterwards. Recommendation: make IEC 81346 a requirement in the information model and procurement, then add semantic models when relationships must be machine-readable.
Related concepts: naming convention, information modelling and BRICK ontology.
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